“But more than that, LMC staff played a key role in developing the overall submission that was presented to the World Organisation for Animal Health on behalf of the local beef industry.”

Turning to Brexit, McGivern confirmed LMC’s role in helping to commission three major reports on the issue during 2017.

“Our commitment to ensure that Northern Ireland secures the best Brexit deal possible goes without saying.

“Developing new trading relationships with the rest of the world will be critical as will be the maintenance of our existing customer base. And, as I keep saying, this is why FQAS will play such an important role moving forward. It, truly, is the asset that sets us apart from the rest of the world.”

Other priorities for LMC in 2018 will include that of profiling the nutritional and health benefits both beef and lamb offer, when included as part of a healthy diet.

“I am mindful of the speech given by University College Dublin’s Professor Patrick Wall at the recent FQAS 25th anniversary dinner, during which he pointed out that beef and sheep producers are actually in the health business.

“With this theme very much in mind, we are currently working on a number of new promotional campaigns, which highlight the tremendously positive nutritional benefits associated with the inclusion of beef and lamb in a healthy diet.”

Mr McGivern concluded:

“One of the big positives of 2017 was the series of walk-the-line events, organised by LMC staff,” he said.

“These provided farmers with the opportunity to see, at first hand, how their finished animals were processed and the market challenges which confront processors on a daily basis.